ENLISTED.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1916, Page 6

ENLISTED.

PRESENTATION TO MR. W. ST

GEORGE

The members of (he .stuff nf Messrs Grili'en and Smith, Ltd., assembled on Saturday last to ''id farewell to Mr. W. St. George, who has severed his connection with tlie linn to go to the front.

Mr. John McKenzie said they had gathered together to bid au revoir to their most esteemed friend, Mr. St. George, and present him with a memento of their esteem and good wishes. Ever since this Avar broke out, he continued, the martial spirit and the blood of past warriors, had coursed rapidly through their guest's veins, prompting him to go and do battle for King and country. It was only the ties of home and consideration for his people which had prevented Mr. St. George from joining the colors a year ago. However, the call of the Motherland was too strong, and finally he decided to throw in his lot with those brave heroes at the front, who are spilling their heart's blood for our freedom. But he is like his forefathers—they were ever brave—and blood will tell; St. Georges in ages past have bled for their King and country, and the son of a long race of warrior ancestors was now following in their footsteps. As a man with whom 1 they had all had pleasant associations, they extremely regretted the parting, for Mr. St. George was ever ready to oblige all and sundry, not grudgingly, but willingly and cheerfully, and they trusted he would come out on top, a place he deserved, being no coward. They could not blame every young fellow for not enlisting; that would be wrong. There are many young men who are only too anxious to go, but there were private reasons preventing them; but' God knows there are many who are not shirkers, but absolute cowards. In conclusion, he asked Mr. St. George to accept a small token of their esteem and hoped he would be as successful as his namesake, St. George, who slew the dragon; the "dragon" in this ' case being the Hun murderers and the Prussian militarists.

Messrs Heppell and Boucher spoke in a similar strain.

Mr. St. George thanked all present for their gift, which he said he would .always treasure. He regretted the parting, for it meant a big thing to sever connection with all who were near and dear to him. He would do his best to uphold the traditions of th P British race.

Mr. St. George left this morning to go into camp, a large number of his friends assembling at the railway station to bid him farewell.